Harish Rao slams Congress and BJP over cotton, maize crisis and farm neglect
Hyderabad: BRS MLA and former minister T. Harish Rao on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and BJP, accusing both parties of failing Telangana farmers amid a deepening cotton and maize crisis. Speaking after his visit to the Enumamula market in Warangal, Rao said the Revanth Reddy-led government had failed to deliver a single promise made under the Warangal Declaration.
He alleged that cotton farmers across the state were in severe distress due to technical hurdles, pricing failures, and government indifference. “There’s no electricity, no fertiliser, no Rythu Bandhu, no loan waiver, no bonus, no crop insurance. Is this what Revanth Reddy promised?” Rao asked.
Cotton farmers losing ₹2,000 per quintal amid app, moisture hurdles
Harish Rao said nearly 50 lakh acres in Telangana are under cotton cultivation, but policies by both the state and central governments have pushed farmers into a crisis. He blamed the BJP-led Centre for imposing irrational conditions through the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), including mandatory 8–12% moisture content and classification under L1, L2, L3 standards via the Kapas app.
“Ginning mills have shut down for two days. Farmers are forced to sell to middlemen at ₹6,000 a quintal, when the Minimum Support Price is ₹8,100. They are losing ₹2,000 per quintal,” he said, adding that the Kapas app excludes farmers without smartphones.
He demanded immediate withdrawal of the app and grading system, and that CCI procure up to 12 quintals of cotton per farmer as done last year. He also slammed the Centre’s removal of import duties, which has led to unrestricted cotton imports, hurting local growers.
BRS to intensify protest if demands ignored
Accusing the BJP of favouring corporates, Rao said: “They waived ₹1 lakh crore for industrialists but deny MSP to poor farmers.” He mocked the state’s eight BJP MPs, saying “even scarecrows are more useful in the fields.”
He demanded that the Centre restore import duties on cotton and stop imposing restrictions that benefit traders over farmers. “If Revanth Reddy does not wake up, we will dump cotton in front of Jubilee Hills Palace. BRS will launch an intensified agitation.”
Rao accused the Congress government of celebrating two years of governance while 406 farmers have died by suicide. “Why celebrate governance when farmers are dying, standing in queues for urea, and receiving no support?” he said.
Maize farmers also hit, bonus and insurance delayed
He highlighted the plight of maize farmers from Mulugu, who are selling produce at ₹1,800 per quintal against an MSP of ₹2,400. “Each farmer is losing ₹570 per quintal. Has a single rupee reached them?” Rao asked, citing that the government had failed to release last season’s ₹1,100 crore bonus.
He added that ₹1,400 crore in dues remain unpaid to farmers from this year’s procurement, and the Congress has not delivered on its crop insurance promise even after two years. “Without insurance, farmers hit by unseasonal rain are left with nothing,” he said.
Rao accused the Centre of applying double standards—protecting wheat in North India while neglecting rice in the South. “KCR’s government was the first to introduce Rythu Bandhu. Now, two seasons’ payments have been skipped.”
He also questioned Revanth Reddy’s silence before the Centre. “Despite visiting Delhi 60 times, he never raised cotton farmers’ concerns with the Prime Minister,” Rao said.
Demands compensation for flood-affected Warangal families
Harish Rao also targeted the state government over flood relief. “Twenty thousand homes were submerged in Warangal. Two months ago, they promised ₹15,000 per family. Not a single rupee has been released.”
He warned the Congress government to act swiftly or face agitation. “We demand immediate release of crop bonuses, insurance payments, and flood compensation.”